Dimitri Hakke/GettyWhile January's release schedule this year remains as quiet as ever, there are still at least a handful of new albums which have the potential to banish those post-Christmas blues. Here's a look at five of the most exciting.Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes (Jan. 13)The first big album of 2014, High Hopes is an intriguing collection of outtakes, cover versions and reinterpretations which sees The Boss tackle everything from protopunk duo Suicide's "Dream Baby Dream" to his very own "The Ghost Of Tom Joad" with a little help from The E Street Band and Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello.Mogwai – Rave Tapes (Jan. 20)Fresh from creating the soundtrack to critically-acclaimed French zombie drama The Returned, Scottish quintet Mogwai return to the day job with an intriguing eighth studio effort which, as its name suggests, throws some electronics into their typically atmospheric post-rock mix.Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Wanderlust (Jan. 20)Hoping to capitalise on her surprisingly successful run on Strictly Come Dancing, Victoria Beckham's one-time arch nemesis ditches the glittery electro-pop of her previous four albums and instead opts for an elegant chamber-pop sound on a cleverly-timed reinvention overseen by under-rated singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt.Warpaint – Warpaint (Jan. 20)The Los Angeles quartet have certainly taken their time since releasing their stunning debut, The Fool, back in 2010. But the presence of producer Flood and visionary music video director Chris Cunningham and a typically slow-burning but ultimately hypnotic lead single, "Love Is To Die," suggests that the wait will be worth it.You Me At Six – Cavalier Youth (Jan. 27)Following their first ever headline US tour and a support slot on Paramore's Australian tour, the UK's premier emo-rockers will be hoping to build on their international profile with a fourth record produced by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Kings Of Leon).
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Lions Gate via Everett Collection
When we last left our heroes, they had conquered all opponents in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, returned home to their newly refurbished living quarters in District 12, and fallen haplessly to the cannibalism of PTSD. And now we're back! Hitching our wagons once again to laconic Katniss Everdeen and her sweet-natured, just-for-the-camera boyfriend Peeta Mellark as they gear up for a second go at the Capitol's killing fields.
But hold your horses — there's a good hour and a half before we step back into the arena. However, the time spent with Katniss and Peeta before the announcement that they'll be competing again for the ceremonial Quarter Quell does not drag. In fact, it's got some of the film franchise's most interesting commentary about celebrity, reality television, and the media so far, well outweighing the merit of The Hunger Games' satire on the subject matter by having Katniss struggle with her responsibilities as Panem's idol. Does she abide by the command of status quo, delighting in the public's applause for her and keeping them complacently saturated with her smiles and curtsies? Or does Katniss hold three fingers high in opposition to the machine into which she has been thrown? It's a quarrel that the real Jennifer Lawrence would handle with a castigation of the media and a joke about sandwiches, or something... but her stakes are, admittedly, much lower. Harvey Weinstein isn't threatening to kill her secret boyfriend.
Through this chapter, Katniss also grapples with a more personal warfare: her devotion to Gale (despite her inability to commit to the idea of love) and her family, her complicated, moralistic affection for Peeta, her remorse over losing Rue, and her agonizing desire to flee the eye of the public and the Capitol. Oftentimes, Katniss' depression and guilty conscience transcends the bounds of sappy. Her soap opera scenes with a soot-covered Gale really push the limits, saved if only by the undeniable grace and charisma of star Lawrence at every step along the way of this film. So it's sappy, but never too sappy.
In fact, Catching Fire is a masterpiece of pushing limits as far as they'll extend before the point of diminishing returns. Director Francis Lawrence maintains an ambiance that lends to emotional investment but never imposes too much realism as to drip into territories of grit. All of Catching Fire lives in a dreamlike state, a stark contrast to Hunger Games' guttural, grimacing quality that robbed it of the life force Suzanne Collins pumped into her first novel.
Once we get to the thunderdome, our engines are effectively revved for the "fun part." Katniss, Peeta, and their array of allies and enemies traverse a nightmare course that seems perfectly suited for a videogame spin-off. At this point, we've spent just enough time with the secondary characters to grow a bit fond of them — deliberately obnoxious Finnick, jarringly provocative Johanna, offbeat geeks Beedee and Wiress — but not quite enough to dissolve the mystery surrounding any of them or their true intentions (which become more and more enigmatic as the film progresses). We only need adhere to Katniss and Peeta once tossed in the pit of doom that is the 75th Hunger Games arena, but finding real characters in the other tributes makes for a far more fun round of extreme manhunt.
But Catching Fire doesn't vie for anything particularly grand. It entertains and engages, having fun with and anchoring weight to its characters and circumstances, but stays within the expected confines of what a Hunger Games movie can be. It's a good one, but without shooting for succinctly interesting or surprising work with Katniss and her relationships or taking a stab at anything but the obvious in terms of sending up the militant tyrannical autocracy, it never even closes in on the possibility of being a great one.
3.5/5
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Sigh. It feels like it was only yesterday when we last left Raylan Givens and co., with his nemesis Quarles lying on the ground with a bloody stump, and Raylan himself bleeding from the inside due to the several emotional wounds opened by various members of his family. But it wasn't, and tonight, Justified will make its triumphant Season 4 return — complete with snakes, flashbacks, and Twitter-happy comedians. Hollywood.com was able to attend Justified's premiere in Los Angeles last week, and we're here to fill you in on what you missed last season, and to mercilessly tease you with quotes from the stars on what's to come. Read on, hill people!
Where We Left Off: Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) was already having a pretty rough go of it — his pregnant on-again-off-again Winona (Natalie Zea) left him, and began trolling Orbitz for flights to Costa Rica. His arch-nemesis Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) was finally in jail for murdering his former associate, but he was released when Raylan's own father, Arlo (Raymond J. Barry), confessed to the crime — effectively choosing his buddy-in-crime over his son.
Things were (sort of?) looking up when Season 3's big bad Quarles (Neal McDonough) got his arm hacked off by Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson), but the pale bastard used up his last words telling Raylan that Arlo only shot Trooper Tom because he mistook him for Raylan. And you thought Boyd had daddy issues?
Biggest Jaw-Dropper Last Season: Well, besides the aforementioned attempted filicide, the ruthless murder of Winona's other ex-husband, Gary, was a shocker.
Biggest Let-Down From Last Season: Last season was pretty stellar, but it would be nice to see Raylan's co-workers actually do something. This isn't Dexter, after all.
Most Improved Character: Arlo was always interesting, but his ruthless deception and moral decrepitude was fascinating to watch, and we can't wait to see how it will continue to weigh on Raylan this season.
Least Improved Character: Tim (Jacob Pitts) and Rachel (Erica Tazel), though it's not really their fault that they never have anything to do.
5 Reasons You Should Keep Watching: First, there's the fact that comedian Patton Oswalt will recur as Constable Bob, a goof from Raylan's high school class who is assigned the difficult task of watching over Arlo's house, and who not-so-secretly has a man-crush on Raylan. Then there's the mysterious backwoods "Snake Church" that Boyd, Ava and co. become involved with over the first few episodes — a plot line that Goggins wasn't initially very happy about. "I'm not scared of many things, but snakes are one of the things that I’m most scared of in the world," Goggins says. "I read [the script] and I started sweating, like I couldn’t handle it. And at one point there’s a snake in a box that I had to pick up, and that freaked me out. There’s not really anything that scares me in the way that snakes do, so yes — Walton Goggins did not want to go in that church as much as Boyd Crowder did not want to go in that church." Color us intrigued!
Meanwhile, Raylan will interact with a group called the "Hill People", while also tackling a deep family mystery, which means — you guessed it — FLASHBACKS! And since Raylan/Olyphant are both sexy as f***, we were very excited to hear the following news about the Deputy Marshall's love live: "Well, [Winona] left Raylan so he’s available to f*** up his life in every which way," Olyphant says.
What We Ultimately Want To See: More Dewey Crowe (Damon Herriman) and Dickie Bennett (Jeremy Davies, who won an Emmy for the role), though producer Graham Yost has hinted that their returns may not happen this year. It's a shame, because these two redneck extraordinaires steal every episode in which they appear. We'd also love to see Ava take on a larger role in the crime world, as Harlan County would be a very interesting place with the competent, fiery blonde running the show.
What Would Make Us Turn Our Backs: That would be extremely difficult, as Justified has been consistently engaging throughout the last three seasons. However, we will say that we're pretty sick of the Raylan/Winona drama.
Justified premieres Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 10pm on FX. Reporting by Leanne Aguilera Follow Shaunna on Twitter @HWShaunna [PHOTO CREDIT: FX] MORE: 'Justified' Gets Season 4: More Timothy Olyphant Shooting Junkies 'Justified' (Season 3) TV Stills 'Justified' Recap: Who Took the Money? From Our Partners: ’Texas Chainsaw’: Top 5 Leatherface Kills (Moviefone) Quentin Tarantino’s Most Bad-Ass Music Moments (Moviefone)

Happy New Year TV lovers! Since it’s a fresh start, let me reintroduce myself: My name is Leanne, (She awkwardly curtsies, stumbles, and falls. Wow, smooth.) I’m completely obsessed with all things television-related and I’m thrilled to continue spoiling you all with what’s coming up on your favorite shows! So here’s how it’s going to work: Every Wednesday, I’ll post a short but oh-so sweet list of all the spoilers you absolutely need to know. Every show will get their time to shine, but if you really want to hear scoop about a particular series, find me on Twitter (@LeanneAguilera) and use the hashtag #LeannesList to tweet a question about your favorite show. Or if you’re too lazy to open another window on your desktop, just place your requests in the comments below. Voila! So easy right?
Now that we’re slowly but surely becoming cyber soulmates, let’s get started! In the first 2013 edition of Leanne’s Spoiler List I’m dishing about the oh-so hot brand new characters you’ll be meeting in season two premiere of Smash and revealing a deeper peak into Elena’s sired mind from The Vampire Dairies boss Julie Plec. I also sweet-talked my way into watching the winter premieres of White Collar, Switched at Birth, and House of Lies and now I’m sharing all the goods about your favorite characters. So sit back, relax, and get ready for a new year filled with fun reviews and exclusive spoilers from yours truly. 1. Smash: A Dashing New Duo!
Some of you know I might have a teeny tiny crush on a show called Glee, so you can imagine how much I absolutely love NBC’s racy, innovative, and infectiously fun musical drama Smash! The season two premiere is still a month away, (Feb. 5!) but lucky for you Broadway lovers, I asked Santa for a sneak peek and I was very good this year! The first episode back is a whopping two hours long, and it is packed to the brim with new characters, thrilling musical numbers, and so many twists and turns that you’ll definitely need a neck brace when it’s done.
GALLERY: 10 Best (and 5 Worst) TV Couples of 2012
Here's what I can spill about the episode: Dev is officially out of the picture and so far there is absolutely no sign of Julia’s drone of a son Leo. (Cue the applause please!) We get to meet two new fellas, Jimmy and Kyle, who are beyond talented and of course — in true Smash fashion — they’re definitely easy on the eyes. Think of this dynamic playwriting duo as the new Julia and Tom. Kyle writes the book, and Jimmy uses his swoon-worthy voice and musical skills to create the songs. While the Marilyn Musical Bombshell is caught in yet another pre-production snafu, Karen discovers the newbies in a bar and is instantly entranced by their powerful ballads and unique sound. There is only one problem—Jimmy (the so-hot-it-hurts one) has a massive chip on his shoulder and doesn’t want Karen (aka “Princess”) to help him and his partner achieve their dreams. Not to worry: Karen is determined to help their Broadway-bound show—whether they like it or not. Looks like Karen’s got herself a new beau to crush on! 2. House of Lies: Drunk and Delusional If you’re not watching Showtime's comedy House of Lies, you should probably seriously reevaluate your DVR schedule because this show is hilarious, witty, and most importantly, it has Kristen Bell! (Let’s all take a minute to relive the wonderment that is the Ellen/Kristen sloth video.) Now that’s were all in an amazing mood, let’s just dive straight into House of Lies season two scoop. (It premieres Jan. 13, bee tee dubs).
GALLERY: TV's Best Bitchfaces Jeannie is now back from a paid leave of absence from work. Remember that whole sleeping with her boss thing? Well, now she’s got a bigger problem: What the heck happened the night she got wasted with Marty and completely blacked out? It turns out Marty doesn’t remember their drunken night of debauchery either. Luckily, Jeannie begins to have flashbacks from their interesting (and bloody) night, but the last 30 seconds of the episode are definitely something that you don’t want to miss. Oh, and fun fact: Clyde has not one but two girlfriends! That’s right: Claude, our favorite smooth talker, is currently in a Ménage à trois relationship and invites Marty to join the festivities. Of course, I can’t reveal to you what Marty chooses, but I can tell you that his reaction is priceless. What about Doug, you ask? Welp, Doug makes a complete and total fool of himself in front of a very important client. Yet again. 3. The Vampire Diaries: Sired Vampire Girl Problems Whenever The Vampire Diaries is on a hiatus, life seems bleak, empty, and fang-free. Sigh. Luckily for all you Mystic Falls lovers out there, I chatted with the all-knowing TVD showrunner Julie Plec to help curb your bloodlust until the drama returns Jan. 17. Even though we saw the rage/devastation when Stefan learned of Elena and Damon’s recent under-the-sheets activities, Plec reveals that Elena’s love triangle between the two Salvatore brothers is far from over. “Elena's mindset is basically a combination of feeling a sense of loss of not being able to be around Damon and also this profound sense of guilt for how much she's hurt Stefan.” Don't forget about the third man in her life, though: her brother, Jeremy. "Equal to that, a protectiveness of Jeremy,” Plec adds. "She's feeling very unsettled that she's not there where he is in helping him go through the motions to uncover the rest of his hunter marks. So she's got a lot that she's concerned about." Our heroine will never lead a normal high school senior life, but then again, she is a vampire. GALLERY: TV's Most Infuriating Third Wheels
But about that Damon situation: Is Elena ever going to question the sire bond, or is she dead set that her love for Damon is the real deal? Plec answers, "In the midst of all of it, she's still wondering, are these [true] feelings she's feeling? They feel so real. What is going on with me?” Looks like we’re going to have to wait a few weeks to find out, but head on down to the comments with your speculations! Is it just the sire bond messing with her head, or does Elena truly love Damon? 4. Switched at Birth: Gifts Galore!
After what seemed like the longest season one in the history of television (I might be exaggerating just a tad), Switched at Birth returns Jan. 7 with a brand new season and a whole lot of fun! I've already witnessed the amazingness of the season two premiere and I am happy to report that fans will not be disappointed. When we last saw our two families, Angelo was awarded with a $5 million settlement which was basically the court's way of saying, "This is really awkward and we're really sorry that the hospital switched your two daughters. So here's a huge pile of money to make up for it." So, what’s a fella to do with all that cash? Shower everyone with gifts, that’s what! A cappuccino maker, a telescope, and a Rolex watch are just a few of the pricey items that Angelo gives the family to show his love. But the coolest present of all is definitely Daphne’s.
GALLERY: Twist! TV's Best (and Worst) Game Changers When I was on the Switched at Birth set last month, the lovely Katie Leclerc was kind enough to spill the details to me and now I’m going to do the same for you: “Daphne gets a food truck!” Leclerc exclaims. The actress reveals that although Daphne has an intense passion for cooking, owning a food truck is a huge challenge and commitment for the high schooler. “Now she has to learn about business and has to learn about how her business affects other businesses and different communities and things like that. But she figures it out and she really grows up. She really just thrives in that environment and it’s good to see that,” she says. Business savvy is great and all, but with food trucks it’s all about the tasty treats! So what will Miss Daphne be dishing up? Leclerc smiles. “The first time she takes it out she does waffles, but it turns out that she is going to do tacos… but with a twist,” she spills. Sounds delicious to me!
5. Comment Question: Dale Sullivan asked, “Got anything new on "White Collar"?”
Well my dear Dale, I just finished watching the mid-season premiere of White Collar and let me confess something to you: I have a HUGE crush on Matt Bomer. Is that spoilery enough for you? Okay, fine. Let’s get to it! The episode, “Family Business” — which premieres on Jan. 22 — is a total Marry Poppins (practically perfect in every way!) When we last saw our handsome hero, Neal discovered in a shocking twist that Sam is actually his father. Dun dun duuun! Now fans will pick up right where we left off and in the first three minutes you’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about our MIA daddy, including the backstory behind the picture Neal has from when he was a little boy.
Golden Globes 2013: Worst TV Snubs To find the truth behind his father’s criminal past, Neal must go undercover into the spirited world of counterfeit whiskey (pun intended). So get excited, White Collar fans, because the only thing better than a shirtless Neal is a drunk one with a sneaky plan. We already knew that our blue-eyed badass was incredible at a lot of things, but you can now add professional alcohol replicator to that list. After a fiery climax (yup that’s a big clue), Neal makes the tough decision about whether or not he wants his dad to be a part of his life. Are you excited to meet Smash’s dashing new man? Counting down the days to get your Delena and Stelena fix? Intrigued by the new season of House of Lies? Tell me everything in the comments below!
Follow Leanne on Twitter @LeanneAguilera
[Photo Credit: USA, The CW, ABC Family, NBC, Showtime]
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Is On the Road the first successful attempt to bring Jack Kerouac's beloved novel to the screen? Depends on who you ask. Fans of the Beat Generation will undoubtedly love this film directed by Walter Salles and adapted by Jose Rivera and those familiar with Kerouac's mythos might be able to play along. But if you've never heard of this group of writers and miscreants you might be eating their dust.
On the Road is occasionally beautiful and entirely too long. Its narrator Sal Paradise Kerouac's alter ego is played by Sam Riley with a sort of muted watchfulness; he's an outsider the writer narrating it all along for the ride but the script doesn't do justice to the tastes of Kerouac's writing (although we get a taste in some small voiceovers). Garrett Hedlund owns this movie from top to bottom as Dean Moriarty with his buoyant earthy sexuality and total irresponsibility. In reality Dean is the sort of user and mooch that would be a total drain of energy and resources but we see him as Sal does: alive free sensual somehow utterly honest in his protestations of love and honesty despite his constant betrayals.
Dean is absolutely the sex and love object of the movie his pansexual groove attracting and scaring Sal and in a way breaking his heart. Dean also breaks the hearts of Marylou his on-again off-again child bride played by Kristen Stewart; Camille the mother of his children played by Kirsten Dunst; and most movingly Carlo Marx the alter ego of Allen Ginsberg who is played by Tom Sturridge. Sturridge is excellent as the lovelorn poet who's alternately suicidal and joyous and his scenes with Hedlund are some of the most erotic and moving. The female characters get short shrift especially Marylou who lacks much of a personality; how much of what she does is egged on by Dean and how much is of her own volition? The ballyhoo over her nude scenes were overblown by half; although they're somewhat sexy they're overshadowed by all of the sexual tension between the leads.
Two of the most interesting characters in On the Road are Old Bull Lee and his wife Jane. Bull is the alter ego of William S. Burroughs and Jane is Joan Vollmer Burroughs's common-law wife and the mother of his children. (Vollmer a writer in her own right was accidentally killed by Burroughs.) Jane played by Amy Adams is bizarre and fascinating a wild-haired lady and drug addict and mother of Bull's children but not much more than that. One could watch an entire movie of Viggo Mortensen playing Bull a sharp-dressed heroin addict who nods off with his child in his arms and strips off his clothes to get in an orgone accumulator he built in his backyard. The movie barely makes a pit stop at their crumbling Louisiana farm and their importance in Sal's life and the Beat generation is never quite explained.
One might argue that the loopy timeline of the film mimics the unending road trip of Dean's life but it doesn't serve the final product. Incorporating more of Kerouac's writing as voice-overs or something similar would have given it more life the kind of vivacity Kerouac sought out in spades which is why he tolerated Dean's vagaries for so long. More than most movies it feels like On the Road could have gone in any direction expanding or reducing characters shortening the trips to concentrate on the characters more emphasizing the effects of their missing fathers or not and it's this wishy-washiness that undermines the movie. It feels much longer than it is. It's a loving tribute to its subjects and a movie that acts as a showcase for rising stars Hedlund and Riley but it fizzles when it should burn.

It was the trickle of pee heard around the world. Cannes attendees were aghast and/or amused an infamous scene from The Paperboy that shows Nicole Kidman urinating on Zac Efron; this is apparently a great salve for jellyfish burns which were covering our Ken Doll-like protagonist. (In fact the term protagonist should be used very loosely for Efron's character Jack who is mostly acted upon than active throughout.)
Lurid! Sexy! Perverse! Trashy! Whether or not it's actually effective is overshadowed by all the hubbub that's attached itself to the movie for better or worse. In fact the movie is all of these things — but that's actually not a compliment. What could have become somethingmemorable is jaw-droppingly bad (when it's not hilarious). Director Lee Daniels uses a few different visual styles throughout from a stark black and white palette for a crime scene recreation at the beginning to a '70s porno aesthetic that oscillates between psychedelic and straight-up sweaty with an emphasis on Efron's tighty-whiteys. This only enhances the sloppiness of the script which uses lines like narrator/housekeeper/nanny Anita's (Macy Gray) "You ain't tired enough to be retired " to conjure up the down-home wisdom of the South. Despite Gray's musical talents she is not a good choice for a narrator or an actor for that matter. In a way — insofar as they're perhaps the only female characters given a chunk of screen time — her foil is Charlotte Bless Nicole Kidman's character. Anita is the mother figure who wears as we see in an early scene control-top pantyhose whereas Charlotte is all clam diggers and Barbie doll make-up. Or as Anita puts it "an oversexed Barbie doll."
The slapdash plot is that Jack's older brother Ward (Matthew McConaughey) comes back to town with his colleague Yardley (David Oyelowo) to investigate the case of a death row criminal named Hillary Van Wetter. Yardley is black and British which seems to confuse many of the people he meets in this backwoods town. Hillary (John Cusack) hidden under a mop of greasy black hair) is a slack-jawed yokel who could care less if he's going to be killed for a crime he might or might not have committed. He is way more interested in his bride-to-be Charlotte who has fallen in love with him through letters — this is her thing apparently writing letters and falling in love with inmates — and has rushed to help Ward and Yardley free her man. In the meantime we're subjected to at least one simulated sex scene that will haunt your dreams forever. Besides Hillary's shortcomings as a character that could rustle up any sort of empathy the case itself is so boring it begs the question why a respected journalist would be interested enough to pursue it.
The rest of the movie is filled with longing an attempt to place any the story in some sort of social context via class and race even more Zac Efron's underwear sexual violence alligator innards swamp people in comically ramshackle homes and a glimpse of one glistening McConaughey 'tock. Harmony Korine called and he wants his Gummo back.
It's probably tantalizing for this cast to take on "serious" "edgy" work by an Oscar-nominated director. Cusack ditched his boombox blasting "In Your Eyes" long ago and Efron's been trying to shed his squeaky clean image for so long that he finally dropped a condom on the red carpet for The Lorax so we'd know he's not smooth like a Ken doll despite how he was filmed by Daniels. On the other hand Nicole Kidman has been making interesting and varied career choices for years so it's confounding why she'd be interested in a one-dimensional character like Charlotte. McConaughey's on a roll and like the rest of the cast he's got plenty of interesting projects worth watching so this probably won't slow him down. Even Daniels is already shooting a new film The Butler as we can see from Oprah's dazzling Instagram feed. It's as if they all want to put The Paperboy behind them as soon as possible. It's hard to blame them.

Widening the thematic scope without sacrificing too much of the claustrophobia that made the original 1979 Alien universally spooky Prometheus takes the trophy for this summer's most adult-oriented blockbuster entertainment. The movie will leave your mouth agape for its entire runtime first with its majestic exploration of an alien planet and conjectures on the origins of the human race second with its gross-out body horror that leaves no spilled gut to the imagination. Thin characters feel more like pawns in Scott's sci-fi prequel but stunning visuals shocking turns and grand questions more than make up for the shallow ensemble. "Epic" comes in many forms. Prometheus sports all of them.
Based on their discovery of a series of cave drawings all sharing a similar painted design Elizabeth (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie (Logan Marshall-Green) are recruited by Weyland to head a mission to another planet one they believe holds the answers to the creation of life on Earth. Along for the journey are Vickers (Charlize Theron) the ruthless Weyland proxy Janek (Idris Elba) a blue collar captain a slew of faceless scientists and David (Michael Fassbender) HAL 9000-esque resident android who awakens the crew of spaceship Prometheus when they arrive to their destination. Immediately upon descent there's a discovery: a giant mound that's anything but natural. The crew immediately prepares to scope out the scene zipping up high-tech spacesuits jumping in futuristic humvees and heading out to the site. What they discover are the awe-inspiring creations of another race. What they bring back to the ship is what they realize may kill their own.
The first half of Prometheus could be easily mistaken for Steven Spielberg's Alien a sense of wonder glowing from every frame not too unlike Close Encounters. Scott takes full advantage of his fictional settings and imbues them with a reality that makes them even more tantalizing. He shoots the vistas of space and the alien planet like National Geographic porn and savors the interior moments on board the Prometheus full of hologram maps sleeping pods and do-it-yourself surgery modules with the same attention. Prometheus is beautiful shot in immersive 3D that never dampers Dariusz Wolski's sharp photography. Scott's direction seems less interested in the run-or-die scenario set up in the latter half of the film but the film maintains tension and mood from beginning to end. It all just gets a bit…bloodier.
Jon Spaihts' and Damon Lindelof's script doesn't do the performers any favors shuffling them to and fro between the ship and the alien construction without much room for development. Reveals are shoehorned in without much setup (one involving Theron's Vickers that's shockingly mishandled) but for the most part the ensemble is ready to chomp into the script's bigger picture conceits. Rapace is a physical performer capable of pulling off a grisly scene involving an alien some sharp objects and a painful procedure (sure to be the scene of the blockbuster season. Among the rest of the crew Fassbender's David stands out as the film's revelatory performance delivering a digestible ambiguity to his mechanical man that playfully toys with expectations from his first entrance. The creature effects in Prometheus will wow you but even Fassbender's smallest gesture can send the mind spinning. The power of his smile packs more of a punch than any facehugger.
Much like Lindelof's Lost Prometheus aims to explore the idea of asking questions and seeking answers and on Scott's scale it's a tremendous unexpected ride. A few ideas introduced to spur action fall to the way side in the logic department but with a clear mission and end point Prometheus works as a sweeping sci-fi that doesn't require choppy editing or endless explosions to keep us on the edge of our seats. Prometheus isn't too far off from the Alien xenomorphs: born from existing DNA of another creature the movie breaks out as its own beast. And it's wilder than ever.
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A kids’ movie without the cheeky jokes for adults is like a big juicy BLT without the B… or the T. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted may have a title that sounds like it was made up in a cartoon sequel laboratory but when it comes to serving up laughs just think of the film as a BLT with enough extra bacon to satisfy even the wildest of animals — or even a parent with a gaggle of tots in tow. Yes even with that whole "Afro Circus" nonsense.
It’s not often that we find exhaustively franchised films like the Madagascar set that still work after almost seven years. Despite being spun off into TV shows and Christmas specials in addition to its big screen adventures the series has not only maintained its momentum it has maintained the part we were pleasantly surprised by the first time around: great jokes.
In this third installment of the series – the trilogy-maker if you will – directing duo Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath add Conrad Vernon (director Monsters Vs. Aliens) to the helm as our trusty gang swings back into action. Alex the lion (Ben Stiller) Marty the zebra (Chris Rock) Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) are stuck in Africa after the hullaballoo of Madagascar 2 and they’ll do anything to get back to their beloved New York. Just a hop skip and a jump away in Monte Carlo the penguins are doing their usual greedy schtick but the zoo animals catch up with them just in time to catch the eye of the sinister animal control stickler Captain Dubois (Frances McDormand). And just like that the practically super human captain is chasing them through Monte Carlo and the rest of Europe in hopes of planting Alex’s perfectly coifed lion head on her wall of prized animals.
Luckily for pint-sized viewers Dubois’ terrifying presence is balanced out by her sheer inhuman strength uncanny guiles and Stretch Armstrong flexibility (ah the wonder of cartoons) as well as Alex’s escape plan: the New Yorkers run away with the European circus. While Dubois’ terrifying Doberman-like presence looms over the entire film a sense of levity (which is a word the kiddies might learn from Stiller’s eloquent lion) comes from the plan for salvation in which the circus animals and the zoo animals band together to revamp the circus and catch the eye of a big-time American agent. Sure the pacing throughout the first act is practically nonexistent running like a stampede through the jungle but by the time we're palling around under the big top the film finds its footing.
The visual splendor of the film (and man is there a champion size serving of it) the magnificent danger and suspense is enhanced to great effect by the addition of 3D technology – and not once is there a gratuitous beverage or desperate Crocodile Dundee knife waved in our faces to prove its worth. The caveat is that the soundtrack employs a certain infectious Katy Perry ditty at the height of the 3D spectacular so parents get ready to hear that on repeat until the leaves turn yellow.
But visual delights and adventurous zoo animals aside Madagascar 3’s real strength is in its script. With the addition of Noah Baumbach (Greenberg The Squid and the Whale) to the screenwriting team the script is infused with a heightened level of almost sarcastic gravitas – a welcome addition to the characteristically adult-friendly reference-heavy humor of the other Madagascar films. To bring the script to life Paramount enlisted three more than able actors: Vitaly the Siberian tiger (Bryan Cranston) Gia the Leopard (Jessica Chastain) and Stefano the Italian Sealion (Martin Short). With all three actors draped in European accents it might take viewers a minute to realize that the cantankerous tiger is one and the same as the man who plays an Albuquerque drug lord on Breaking Bad but that makes it that much sweeter to hear him utter slant-curse words like “Bolshevik” with his usual gusto.
Between the laughs the terror of McDormand’s Captain Dubois and the breathtaking virtual European tour the Zoosters’ accidental vacation is one worth taking. Madagascar 3 is by no means an insta-classic but it’s a perfectly suited for your Summer-at-the-movies oasis.

UPDATED: Last weekend, The Avengers exploded into theaters, clobbering enough alien invaders to earn them over $200 million at the box office. Seeing as the movie has already made more than Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger in their entire box office run and is well on its way to challenging Iron Man 2's $312.4 million final total, it's safe to say the head honchos at Marvel and Disney are quietly prepping a regathering of their ultimate superhero team for an Avengers 2.
Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind Marvel's cinematic universe, is mum on the future of the Avengers, noting in interviews that Joss Whedon is optioned for an Avengers 2 but there are no concrete plans. The plan (for now) is to concentrate on solo hero outings, of which Marvel has many in motion. In an interview with Badass Digest, Feige mentions, "The people who do know say 'Oh, they only did this to lead into that!' Maybe they'll still do that with our next few movies, but it 'll be much less overt. I think they'll be more likely to go, 'What the f**k do they do now? How the f**k do they get to Avengers 2 now?' Which I actually like."
In 2013, we'll get two more comic book outings featuring The Avengers team members. First up is Iron Man 3, currently in production with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Tony Stark and his Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black at the helm. The movie is set for a May 3, 2013 release, but as always, details and rumors are slowly starting to trickle. The movie is reportedly focusing on a plotline from the comics called "Extremis," which sees Downey Jr.'s Stark integrating his suit's technology into his body, making him literally superhuman. In interviews, Feige has compared the movie to the beginning of the original Iron Man where Stark is left powerless. Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce (while It-girl Jessica Chastain has recently passed) are all on board for the new movie, but one Avenger won't be returning: Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. Now comes word that The Town star Rebecca Hall is in talks for the female lead.
Marking Marvel's foray into the holiday film season, Thor 2 will strike down on November 15, 2013. Both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, who played Loki in both the first Thor and The Avengers, will return for the movie, as well as Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Game of Thrones vet Alan Taylor is set to direct the movie, which somehow sees Thor venturing into new parts of the universe while expanding on the relationship between him and Jane from the first movie. Throw on top a brand new — and secret — villain, who will keep things interesting for Thor on top of Loki's usual mischief. Who could that someone be? An early rumor paints it as a double dose of evil: classic Thor villains The Enchantress and The Executioner. An evil Asgardian sorceress and her warrior whipping boy. Sounds about right. In an exclusive interview with Hemsworth, the actor even teased the possibility of the Thor universe's strangest character: Beta Ray Bill, half horse, half man. 100% amazing.
While it's way down the road, Chris Evans is also confirmed for his superheroic follow-up in Captain America 2, locked for April 4, 2014. In true Marvel fashion, details are being kept close to the chest, but the writers of the screenplay have revealed that the movie will be set primarily in present day (a wording that leaves it wide open for period setting flashbacks). Returning cast is up in the air based on demands, but actor Neal McDonough, who had a role as one of Cap's army buddies, Dum Dum Dugan, says he'll be back. The influence The Avengers and its success will have on the script could change everything, but Marvel is currently in pursuit of a director. Community directors Joe and Anthony Russo have been named in contenders, but no deal is set. Whoever takes the movie, we know it's definitely happening.
The rest of the crew has a foggy future. Those wowed by Mark Ruffalo's Hulk shouldn't get their hopes up; the actor has a six-picture deal that could see him returning to an Avengers sequel and as a costar in other Marvel productions, but Feige was skeptical pre-Avengers success. Speaking to CinemaBlend, the producer acknowledged that they were thrilled by Hulk in Avengers, they aren't rushing. If anything, demand (via toy sales, of course!) could bring about a third Hulk (although a new TV show is already in the works).
Rumors of a Black Widow and/or Haweye stand-alone film haven't gone any further than just that, with Marvel's upcoming and unknown slate continuing to focus on fresh franchises. Names that have been thrown around since Iron Man's debut are still in contention: a magic-driven Doctor Strange feature, Edgar Wright's Ant-Man and an epic Guardians of the Galaxy tentpole are all in the works. The conclusion of The Avengers certainly teases a sci-fi spin on the future installments — which would tie perfectly into Guardians of the Galaxy. Along with Captain America 2 in 2014, Marvel announced a second, unknown movie for June 27, 2014. Don't hold your breath for Avengers 2, but with only two years to go, Marvel will have to start making bold choices soon, setting into motion the next phase of their grand plan.
Don't hold your breath, Squirrel Girl.
Marvel movie questions? Find Matt Patches directly on Twitter @misterpatches!
More:
'Avengers' Rumors: The True, the False and the Bizarre
'Iron Man 3': Made in China
Chris Hemsworth Talks 'Avengers', 'Thor' Sequel, and More!
[Empire, Collider, Latino-Review, CinemaBlend, MTV, Screen Rant]